Friday, October 26, 2007

From July 30-August 1, 2008 I'll be participating in my own personal version of the PanMassChallenge from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA. The PMC is an annual bike ride that began way back in 1977 to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Since its inception, this event has raised more than $200 million for DFCI. Not to shabby, eh?

Being cancer-free for 3+ years now, there's no question I owe my life to DFCI...but since I don't own a bike (and I'm a little crazy), I'm attempting to become the first person to RUN the entire 192 mile PMC course from start to finish. Yes, on foot...and yes, non-stop.

For safety reasons, the PMC organizers don't want me on the course at the same time as the cyclists, so I'll start my run three days before them on Wednesday, July 30. From there I'll run through 2 days and nights in order to finish in P-Town sometime on Friday, August 1. I figure it'll take me 50 hours or so, depending on the weather.

That said, I've got some work to do in the next 10 months to get ready for these 192 miles of smiles on the roads of Massachusetts. I'll be posting regularly on this blog during my training (there will be tales of other races mixed in before the PMC as well - including two 100 milers). I'll also be looking to see if anyone in MA would like to join up with me and run some portions of the course to keep me company.

...and of course, I'll be begging and pleading with various companies to help sponsor me in any and every possible way. If anyone has any leads/contacts, let me know! I don't care if I look like a NASCAR trailer out there during this run...the more logos I have on me, the more money DFCI gets! For those of you who would like to donate directly to Dana Farber to support this run, you can follow this link to the RUN 192 Donation Page. Thank you!

5 comments:

HI DAN, I AM WRITING TO YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR NEW EFFORTS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL PRAY FOR YOUR SUCCESS IN THE 192 MILE RUN. I SAW YOUR MOTHER'S TURMOIL WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH YOUR ILLNESS - AND I SAW HER GRATITUDE AND JUBULATION WHEN YOU WENT INTO REMISSION. I WORKED WITH HER AT LCC. I WILL KEEP CHECKING IN TO SEE YOUR PROGRESS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR EFFORTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.MY BEST WISHES AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, DAN.ELIZABETH

I think you're nuts, but I guess that's why everyone who knows you loves and admires you. I will ask Audax (Andrews company) about their sponsorship/donation matching policies. My only request is (seriously)that you don't so anything that will hurt you. This is so cool. You owe it to your fans to tell us how the heck you train for something like this?

Dan is crazy - like a fox. From past experience as a Team Rose ultramarathon crew member, I know that every detail of this run will be studied and prepared for. The man is on a mission and he is the real deal.

Dan and familyI can't tell you how fantastic I think this. I have a couple of buddies who ride the PMC and they think your crazy - but it really is fabulous to see how devoted your are to such a worth ycause. In fact, I just returned from the AACR annual meeting - the American Association for Cancer Research and I can tell you that there are some really awesome new treatments that will be available to cancer patients in the upcoming years. Please let us know what John and I can help you out with for the run - pacing, refueling stations, moral support etc. Good luck with the remainder of your training and be in touch!Jen (Brown) Gardner

One-on-One Cancer Support!

About Me

While undergoing chemo treatments in Boston in 2004, I knew if I was lucky enough to get healthy again, I needed to do my part to help inspire my friends who are/were/will be stuck in the hospital just like me.
I wanted to come back from treatments stronger than ever to prove cancer can actually be a blessing in many ways.
Thanks to an amazing network of friends and supporters, I have raised over $20,000 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston through my post-cancer running adventures. Even more important than the money will hopefully be the inspiration a few of my fellow patients will feel when they read about my adventures. As my new running plans and goals develop over the years, the #1 reason for every step I run remains the same: To inspire cancer patients everywhere to make two fists when they wake up every morning and keep fighting!